The Christian Science Monitor

In ‘Polina,’ a ballerina pursues contemporary

Movies about dancers are often unsatisfying both as drama and as studies of bodies in motion. Partly this is because not many directors know how to photograph dance but also because not many trained dancers are good actors, and vice versa. Also, the plotlines that coalesce around the dancers’ lives are often riddled with clichés.

“Polina,” based on a graphic novel by Bastien Vivès anddirected by French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj and screenwriter Valérie Müller, is about a gifted young Russian ballerina who leaves behind her classical training to pursue contemporary dance, with mixed results. The movie, too, is a mixed bag.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor12 min read
These Migrants Bound For The US Border Found Their Dream Opportunity In Mexico
When Dales Louissaint left Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2016 amid growing lawlessness and economic crisis, his sights were set on the United States. For him, the American dream meant learning a new language, going to college, and becoming a lawyer.  Tod
The Christian Science Monitor5 min read
Baltimore Bridge Collapse Raises Port Safety Issues
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore left six construction workers dead after a massive cargo ship collided with it on Tuesday, trapping about a dozen ships in the harbor, and diverting traffic and cargo.  While some people voice
The Christian Science Monitor2 min readInternational Relations
Resilience Against Russian Lies
When the British think tank Chatham House decided last year to measure the resilience of countries to foreign interference, it chose the tiny nation of Moldova as a pilot study. The timing was perfect. In early March, Moldova’s national intelligence

Related Books & Audiobooks